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The Pella Fire and Police Departments are partnering together to recognize National Donate Life Month by displaying a special flag in front of the PD. Pella Fire Chief Doug Van Gorkom has championed the effort encouraging all residents to register as organ donors to help save lives; his wife Susan received a double lung transplant in 2015 and has since fully recovered. Van Gorkom shares his story and those of others to remind the impact an organ donation could have on someone’s life. Additionally, both the Pella Police Department and Pella Fire Department have green lights on to recognize the special month. ....
It was time to set the clocks ahead this weekend as Daylight Saving Time begins for 2021. At 2 a.m. today, time went to daylight saving time by one hour, which makes mornings a bit darker and nightfall begin an hour later. Pella Fire Chief Doug Van Gorkom says Daylight Saving Time changes in the spring and fall are a great time to replace batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. He says beyond the battery change, it’s also important to check the expiration date on the alarms themselves to ensure they aren’t past the manufacturers’ recommended lifespan. Van Gorkom says to have heightened awareness of the dangers of fire, especially as many begin controlled burns during the spring and with the recent lack of rainfall in the area. ....
With snow piling up, area fire departments are asking for the public’s help to keep hydrants clear of snow so they can have access to them in case of fire. The Knoxville, Pella, and Indianola Fire Departments are each asking businesses and the public to help them out by “adopting” a hydrant and clearing at least three feet around it. Pella Fire Chief Doug Van Gorkom and Knoxville Fire Chief Cal Wyman both say valuable time can be lost if firefighters have to spend time at a fire scene digging out a hydrant, and it’s much more efficient to have someone who lives or works nearby keep them clear. ....